World Bank commends strong performance of Thailand BOI in website investment promotion services

June 8, 2009 - PRLog -- Thailand BOI recently joined World Bank Group in a press briefing in Bangkok to announce the results of the Global Investment Promotion Benchmarking Study 2009 (GIPB09). The briefing was also part of the three-day workshop organized by World Bank Group for 12 members of APEC to raise the standard of their foreign investment promotion services.

Mr. Robert Whyte, the study manager of the World Bank Group said that based on the findings of GIPB09, Thailand BOI website performed very well in providing information to investors and investment advisors at the long-listing stage of an investment inquiry. The BOI website garnered 78 percent in overall performance, which is 24 points higher than its performance in 2006.

The four key criteria considered by the study include Information Architecture, Design, Content and Promotional Effectiveness. Thailand BOI website received prominently higher scores than the regional average in almost every aspect.

The BOI website provides very clear linkage between the pages that give relevant information for investors. They are easy to view and very user-friendly. Investment information, both core and sector specific, on the site is accurate and comprehensive. Any investors can easily access and download the required investment promotion information, policies, data and news in a click.

In terms of the overall performance in investment promotion services, BOI was ranked the 66th from 181 countries around the world with a score of 55 percent. Compared with other countries in East Asia and Pacific; it scored 15 points higher than the regional average.

Ms. Ajarin Pattanapanchai, Deputy Secretary General, Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) said that “BOI focuses on giving investors up to date and accurate information, especially on the website which is the key access to Thailand investment information from anywhere in the world. To make sure that the information on the site is easily accessible to businessmen around the world, BOI has the contents in seven languages including Thai, English Japanese, Chinese, Korean, French and German. Within the next year, other languages will be added in order to provide better service to Thai and foreign investors”.

Austria was ranked number one in the world for its investment promotion services with the score of 89 percent. In East Asia and Pacific, Hong Kong got the highest score at 74 percent and was ranked 15th globally.

Note to Editor:
   The Global Investment Promotion Benchmarking 2009 report is the second in a series that covers the effectiveness of government agencies in facilitating foreign investment projects. It uses a methodology originally piloted by the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency. This initiative is led by the Investment Climate Advisory Service, which is jointly funded by IFC, MIGA, and the World Bank. For more information about the report, visit www.fias.net

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Thailand BOI offers a range of valuable business-related services to the international investment community. The office helps prospective investors and promoted firms in obtaining official permits and documents required for conducting business, including visas, work permits and permanent residency permits. The BOI also assists investors in gaining access to utilities such as water, electricity and telecommunications.